Fife lifeboat crew called out on a cold search ... for a fridge freezer

Kinghorn RNLI Lifeboat’s volunteer crew was called out yesterday afternoon after reports of an object in the water.

The lifeboat was tasked at 4.22pm after an object – thought to be a vessel in distress - was spotted floating north east of Port Seton by a member of the public.

The lifeboat crew undertook a search in freezing conditions for the object 1-2 miles off the coast, with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Fisherrow and North Berwick searching from the shoreline.

However, it turned out not to be a vessel, but a discarded fridge freezer in the water.

The lifeboat crew undertook a search in freezing conditions for the object which was thought to be a possible vessel in distress 1-2 miles off the coast, but it turned out to be a discarded fridge freezer. Pic: RNLI.

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Crew member Mel McGarva said: “We launched around 4.30pm and were on-scene 20 minutes later to begin a search of the area. Around 5.40pm we found a discarded fridge freezer floating to the west of Craigielaw Point.

“The four crew were very cold by the time we were stood down and returned to Kinghorn at 6.50pm due to the winter weather conditions.

“The member of the public did the right thing by reporting this object as it is very difficult to identify objects from a distance.”

However, she called on people to dispose of items properly to save the crew being called out unnecessarily: “We would ask people to discard of their waste responsibly as this callout could have easily been avoided. There are obviously other environmental risks from irresponsible disposal of fridges too.”

She added: “If you see anyone or anything in difficulty at the coast, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

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